August 28, 1914 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ■ici (a) Where it is shown to his satisfaction that the applicant, patentee, or proprietor, as the case may be, was prevented from doing the said act, or filing the said document, by reason of active service or enforced absence from this country, or any other circumstances arising from the present state of war, which, in the opinion of the Comptroller, would justify such extension; (b) Where the doing of any act would, by reason of the circumstances arising from the present state of war, be prejudicial or injurious to the rights or interests of any applicant, patentee, or proprietor as aforesaid. The Rules come into operation as and from August 7, 1914. The fee payable on application to avoid or suspend patent rights or licence is £2; and that payable on depositing foreign documents or other papers for the purpose of a record not already provided for under the Patents and Designs Act, 190’7, and the Trade Marks Act, 1905, 2s. 6d. Applications have to be made on a form published with the Rules. During the continuance of the war no patent will be sealed and no registration of a trade mark or design will be granted to subjects of any State at war with his Majesty. These include :— (а) A firm which by reason of its constitution may be considered as managed or controlled by such subjects or the business w’hereof is wholly or mainly carried on on behalf of such subjects; (б) A company which has received its constitution in an enemy’s State; (c) A company registered in his Majesty’s Dominions the business whereof is managed or controlled by such subjects, or is carried on wholly or mainly on behalf of such subjects. As regards oppositions to the grant of patents and the registration of trade marks, arising after the commence- ment of the war— (a) Oppositions by such subjects in cases where the grant or registration opposed is one to a British citizen or alien friend will not be entertained; (5) In the case where the grant or registration opposed is a grant or registration to any such subject, the notice of opposition will be accepted, but all further proceedings will be suspended until the end of the war. As regards inventions communicated by subjects in respect of which patents are applied for by persons in this country, these - will be treated in the same manner as if made directly by the communicator. The Rules respecting trade marks are similar in many respects. The primary conditions antecedent to avoid- ance or suspension are :— (a) That the proprietor is the subject of a State at war with his Majesty; (6) That the person applying intends to manufacture, or cause to be manufactured, the goods or any of them in respect of which the trade mark is registered; (c) That it is in the general interests of the country or of a section of the community, or of a trade, that the registration of the trade mark should be so avoided or suspended. In compliance with a request made by the council of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, it has been arranged, that notifications and documents relating to foreign patents, designs, and trade marks, which agents or others are unable to forward to their destination abroad, may be deposited in the Patent Office (Room 27), with the object of recording the intention on the part of the depositor to do any act or to file any document on a certain date at a foreign patent office. No guarantee can, however, be given that such procedure will be of any advantage to the persons concerned. The Char- tered Institute of Patent Agents are opening a trust account, into which money in regard to such matters may be paid, subject to such rules as the institute may make. Copies of the Rules may be obtained on application at the Patent Office, 25, Southampton-buildings. E.C. Applications for the restoration of lapsed patents have been made by Louis Alfred de Mayo, in respect of the patent granted to him for an invention entitled “ Improvements in apparatus for coaling vessels,” num- bered 18509 of 1904, and bearing date August 26, 1904, which expired on August 26, 1910, owing to the non- payment of the prescribed renewal fee; by Charles Samuel Bedford and Fred Atkins, in respect of an inven- tion entitled “ A new and improved material for pro- ducing liquid or gas tight joints upon receptacles for storage of petroleum, oils, spirits, and gas cylinders,” numbered 8201 of 1909, and bearing date April 6, 1909, which expired on April 6, 1914, owing to the non- payment of the prescribed renewal fee; by Amasite Limited, in respect of the patent granted to Bertram Edward Dunbar Kilburn for an invention communicated to him by William Rickmers, and entitled “ Improve- ments in explosives,” numbered 10510 of 1907, and bearing date May 6, 1907, which expired on May 6, 1913, owing to the non-payment of the prescribed renewal fee. In the House of Commons on Tuesday, Mr. Runciman introduced a Bill further to amend the Patents Act. The Act which was passed a fortnight ago was not, he said, owing to the pressure on the Department, as full as it might have been. They now asked that power should be given to deal with all patents and licences when the benefit of such patents or licences accrued to an alien enemy, and also to include registered designs as well as patents. Power was asked to be taken in direct terms to grant licences during the whole term of the war, or for any less period that might be necessary. Hull Coal Exports.—The official return of the exports of coal from Hull for the week ending Tuesday, August 18, 1914, is as follows :—Arendal, 400 tons ; Buenos Ayres, 4,640; Cronstadt, 3,298; Copenhagen, 551; Libau, 188; Port Said, 3,798; Rotterdam, 3,897—total, 16,772 tons. Corre- sponding period August 1913—total, 98,985 tons. MINE SIGNBOARDS.* By EDWIN HIGGINS and EDWARD STEIDLE The purpose of the paper is to draw attention to the need of signboards in the underground workings of mines, and to suggest a set of universal symbols for adoption throughout the mining districts of the United States. The value of warning signs for protecting the general public against dangerous conditions in all walks of life is attested by their general adoption. If warnings of danger are necessary at railroad crossings, excavations, or surface caves, powder magazines, in and around elec- trical plants, in power houses, and many other places on the surface where man has the benefit of the light of day, it appears that there is all the more necessity for warnings in the underground workings of mines where there is little or no light. A miner is much less likely to approach a powder magazine with an open light or a lighted pipe in his hand if he is advised by a sign that powder is stored near by, and usually he will be more careful in approach- ing any point’where a danger sign is displayed. Under ordinary conditions, if the miner is unfamiliar with the underground workings, he will be benefited and will save time if he is enabled to consult a sign that shows him where he is or indicates the way to some certain Fig. 1.—Universal Symbol for Indicating Direction to Safety. point. In all large mines there are at all times many new employees who need the guidance offered by the signboard, as do even old employees in a new part of the mine. Signs pointing the way of escape to different levels, shafts, or other openings are especially valuable in times of disaster, such as fires, floods, explosions, or the caving of ground. Mine signboards are in use in many mining districts of the United States. Although in no part of the country has the practice become general, there are isolated mines that have worked out an elaborate system of signboards. There has been no concerted action looking to the adoption of certain universal symbols or signs, although there are manufacturers of signs and some local mining organisations now working towards this end. In considering symbols for universal use it becomes apparent at once that devices or emblems cannot be provided to meet all the requirements of a complete system of mine signboards. In order that the symbols may be understood readily by men of all nationalities, it is desirable that the signboards contain as little writing as possible. The most important requirements to which the authors feel immediate attention should be given are universal symbols denoting : (1) danger, (2) direction to safety, and (3) ladder ways. In the course of time, when miners have become familiar with these signs, the system may be developed by various combinations of the three symbols adopted, and by the addition of others. Red is the colour in general use to indicate danger, and there appears to be no good reason why this colour should not be used in mining. It is recommended that a circle filled in solidly with red, making a red ball, and painted on a white background, be adopted as the universal symbol of danger. Although this symbol, without words, may be used to advantage at nearly all points where danger exists, yet under certain conditions some wording will be required to make the danger symbol effective. How- ever, the red ball should be supplemented by wording only when w^ords are absolutely necessary, and the words used should be simple and concise. As examples of the use of this danger sign, coupled with words of warning, the following are suggestive :—For posting powder magazines the symbol may be accompanied by the words “ Explosives,” “ Pow’der Magazine,” or “ Danger, Powder Stored Here ”; for posting places in power plant, or at points on surface or underground where there is danger of contact with high voltage wires, such wording as the following may be used : “ Danger, Do Not Throw This Switch,” “ Danger, Look Out For Trolley,” or “ Danger, Live Wire.” For posting a place where a misfire has occurred, use the words, “ Misfired Holes, Keep Away.” It is often desirable to call attention to the direction in which the danger exists. In such cases words may be used, or a hand or other device may point toward the danger, whether it be overhead, underfoot, or straight ahead. For reasons that will appear in the following paragraph an arrow should not be used for pointing toward the danger. It is recommended that the universal symbol for indicating the direction to safety be an arrow, painted or, in case of emergency, chalked on either a light or dark background, and without wording, the idea being to make the arrow the symbol of safety, so that it will convey this meaning however it may be made-or placed. For special purposes this symbol may be used also in connection with such wording as follows : ‘‘To 2nd Outlet Shaft,” “ To Main Drift,” or ‘‘To Main Cross- cut.” It is recommended that the universal symbol for indicating ladder ways or stairways (required for coal mines by some States) be a ladder, preferably painted in *From Technical Paper 67, U.S. Bureau of Mines. any dark colour upon a light coloured background. This symbol may be used without words to indicate a ladder way, or it may be accompanied by such words at the top as the following : “ To 20th Level,” “ To Surface.” In case of ladder ways leading downward the wording at the bottom might be : “ To 19th Level,” “ To Sump.” In addition to the universal symbols suggested herein there are many other useful signboards that should be used in and about the mines. However, owing to the difference in conditions prevailing in the various classes of mines, there is no one set of signboards that would be applicable to all mines. As an aid in the selection of an adequate system the following list of signboards that have been noted at mines in various parts of the country is submitted :— Signboards for Points on the Surface. “ Danger; Keep Away.” (Around the boundary of surface caves.) “ Do Not Walk On These Tracks.” “ Danger; Keep Away From Shaft Collar.” “ No Smoking Allowed Around Shaft Collar.” “ Lighted Candles or Lamps Not Allowed on Man Cage.” “ Look Up.” (Under trestle or tipple where rock, ore, or coal is handled.) “ Keep Out.” “ Careless Workmen Not Wanted Here.” (On office.) “ No Admittance Without Permission From Office.” “ Live Wire.” “ High Voltage. Do Not Touch.” “ Safety First.” “ Riding on Ore Skip Positively Prohibited.” “ Riding on Incline Forbidden.” Signboards for Shaft Stations. A placard showing complete code of hoisting signals. “ Do Not Ring to Move Cage or Skip When Men Are Working in Shaft or Sump.” “Not More Than — Men Permitted to Ride in Cage.” “ Cage Doors Must Be Closed When Men Are Being Handled.” “No Loafing Around This Station.” “ Throw All Rubbish Here ” (at entrance to small opening off station). “ Miners Not Permitted to Ride on Motor.” “ Look Where You Are Going—This Means You.” “ Wrestling, Pushing, or Crowding Positively Pro- hibited.” “ Safety First.” “ 2,000 Level ” or “ 2,500 Level.” “ Look Out for the Motors ” (locomotives). Fig. 2.—Universal Symbol for Ladderway or Stairway. Signboards for Pump Stations. “ Keep Oily Waste in Receptacle Provided.” “ Do Not Oil the Timber—Oil the Machinery.” “ Do Not Hang Candles or Lamps on Timber.” “ Keep This Place Clear of All Rubbish.” “ Beware—Live Wire.” “ High Voltage—Do Not Touch.” Signboards for Mine Workings. “ To 2nd Outlet Shaft ” (with arrow or hand pointing). “ Ladder Way-to 12th Level.” “ To Main Shaft ” (with arrow pointing). “ To Timber Shaft ” (with arrow pointing). “ Dangerous Ground—Keep Away.” “ Danger Overhead.” “ Look Out for Trolley Wire.” (At points where timber carrying the trolley wire is sagging, it is assumed that the wire has guard board wherever men are likely to come in contact with it.) “ Look Out for Motors.” “ Danger—Dynamite Stored Here.” “ Powder Magazine.” “ Danger—Blasting Here.” “ Danger Ahead—Old Workings.” “ Ladder Way to Surface.” “No Smoking Allowed.” “ Danger from Ore Trains—No Travelling in This Tunnel ” (or drift). “ No Candles or Lamps Allowed in Magazine.” “ No Candles or Lamps Allowed in Stables.” At entrance to a gaseous mine or district, “ Open Lamps, Pipes, Cigars, Cigarettes, or Matches Must Not Be Taken Into This Mine ” (or district). The proper size of a signboard will depend largely